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A Brief Exchange
With Michael Patrick Bell

Ed, Edd n Eddy

1999-2009

Michael Patrick Bell, not confused with HB's Mike Bell, is a professional animator and voiceover actor currently voicing White Shadow on TURBO Fast for Netflix. After directing and starring two Oh Yeah! shorts for Nickelodeon, he now works on Peabody & Sherman in theatres March 7th. I got a hold of him of facebook mistaking him for the HB one and asked him a few questions.

February 14, 2014

JXP: Hello Mr. Bell. I have some few questions for you so i can put it on my website.
   MPB: I am swamped right now. But hit me up next week after Tuesday.

 

JXP: Well, since your awfly busy, I'll keep it short. Cuz I'm busy as well, but I need the info now if that ok? Can you answer short questions?
   MPB: Sure.

 

JXP: How long did you do voiceover?
   MPB: On and off since the mid 90's Turbo Fast (White Shadow) is my first regular character

 

JXP: Is it true that you voiced Zan on SuperFriends?
   MPB: Different Michael Bell. When I do voice work I have to go by Michael Patrick Bell (SAG reasons)

 

JXP: What was it like working with the TURBO team?
   MPB: Great. Fun people to work with and everyone is real supportive. It's a lot easier than the other animation work I do (directing and storyboarding)

 

JXP: You were also Santa Claus on Spongebob, were you? What was it like working in live-action and working with the crew? And Santa Claus on The PowerPuff Girls?
   MPB: I was Santa in the first spongebob Christmas special as well as a fisherman in the 1st SB movie. Acting is fun all around . And yes I do play Santa a lot. Probably because I did a short for Oh Yeah Cartoons called Super Santa which was well liked amongst my peers.

 

JXP: I love that short. You also did VO on Samurai Jack right?
   MPB: Yeah. I got to do two episodes (different characters. I got to do the first one because one of the artists drew me into the storyboard as a character and they let me do the voice.

 

JXP: Were you also involved in a short called Commander Cork?
   MPB: That was my baby.

 

JXP: Did you create it?
   MPB: Yes sir. As well as Super Santa, The Forgotten Toybox, and SpleenStab.

 

JXP: So your an animator as well as an actor?
   MPB: Yes. I do keep busy.

 

JXP: Any projects your working on now?
   MPB: Currantly I'm directing on Peabody and Sherman cartoons for Netflix over at Dreamworks TV Animation. I do have a couple of new ideas of my own I am also getting ready to pitch.

 

JXP: Any projects your working on now?
   MPB: Currantly I'm directing on Peabody and Sherman cartoons for Netflix over at Dreamworks TV Animation. I do have a couple of new ideas of my own I am also getting ready to pitch.

 

JXP: Well, I am an indie animator [look up Beat the Buzzer - GZG on newgrounds or youtube and youll see] and I'm currently trying to do Secret Squirrel cartoons. Would you like to help?
   MPB: I love Secret Squirrel But I do have a job currantly as I just mentioned. But if the timing works out down the line... who knows?

 

JXP: Do you watch the old HB one or the 2 Stupid Dogs 1993 one? Or both? Just curious.
   MPB: I've seen both.

 

JXP: Oh ok. Your a writer as well. You did episodes of Phineas & Ferb, Teenage Robot, Robot Jones, Mighty B and Chowder? What were those eps?
   MPB: You can find that out on IMDb. I'm Mike Bell (III) on that site.

 

JXP: I saw. Ok? You played a homeless man on Dropping Out the movie? Was that your first live-action role?
   MPB: Actually I think my first live action film was the Mike Mitchell short "Herd". I also was in a fill or two when I was a student at CAlArts

 

JXP: What did you want to be when you grow up?
   MPB: A comic book artist when I was young. (I have a comic I drew when I was 5) But by high school I got into animation.

 

JXP: Any advice for an animator like myself?
   MPB: Keep working on something. A paying job or your own thing. Hopefully your own thing is the thing that pays you in the end.

 

JXP: Have you ever worked with VO actors Tom Kenny and Rob Paulsen?
   MPB: With Tom, yes. I've hired him on many of my cartoons. He is a truely fantastic guy, talentwise and humanwise.

 

JXP: And Rob?
   MPB: Haven't work with him. I've met him briefly once or twice. Seemed cool.

 

 

JXP: What was your inspiration for your art style?
   MPB: Jay Ward is the biggest inspiration. I still laugh at his cartoons today.

 

JXP: No wonder why you worked in Peabody and Sherman.
   MPB: It's a good fit.

 

JXP: Mike, what was your favorite cartoon?
   MPB: "The Wild Hair" it's a Super Chicken cartoon.

 

JXP: Do you like anime?
   MPB: Yeah, though I'm not well versed in it.

 

JXP: Have you ever had experience with Flash animation?
   MPB: Nope. Not yet.

 

JXP: So, you only did CGI, hand drawn and claymation?
   MPB: Yeah, though I'm not well versed in it.

 

JXP: Do you like anime?
   MPB: Haven't really done much claymation. Just dabbled with at school.

 

JXP: Which comic book series also helped your style?
   MPB: I've always loved Jack Kirby.

 

JXP: Have you worked in Disney productions? Like what?
   MPB: Yes. Nightmare Ned and Phineas & Ferb.

 

JXP: How did you hire your actors? Did it cost you any money?
   MPB: For the shorts I did I went though a studio (Nic and CN) they had that all set up. One last question then I gotta run

 

JXP: Ok. If you had to choose which studio you would produce a full fledged tv series for years to come, which one would it be?
   MPB: Jay Ward Productions. But I would need a WABAC machine.

 

JXP: OHHHH!!!! How about any current studios?
   MPB: Which ever shows me the most love.

 

JXP: Well, thank you for your time and patience. And when you get the chance, be sure to watch Beat the Buzzer - GZG on youtube. youll love it.
   MPB: I will definetly check it out!

 

JXP: Thank you! :)